NSU Men's Basketball Season Opener

NSU at Auburn	Fri., Nov. 10	8 p.m. EST
Game Notes	Live Stats	SEC Network+

NORFOLK, Va. - For the second year in a row, the Norfolk State men's basketball team enters a new season looking to replace a first-team All-MEAC, top-of-the-line scorer. Last year NSU had to overcome the departure of Jeff Short, and now this season the Spartans must make up for the loss of Jonathan Wade, who averaged 19.4 points per game. Despite its recent history of big-time scorers, NSU could be looking at consistent scoring from a variety of players in 2017-18. 
 
The Spartans advanced to the MEAC Tournament title game last year, falling to top seed North Carolina Central 67-59. They ended the regular season second in the league at 12-4, their third straight season finishing second in the regular season standings at 12-4. And after finishing 17-17 overall last year and getting picked to again finish second in the league this season, the Spartans know the league is there for the taking.
 
NSU, Hampton and preseason No. 1 Morgan State return arguably the most talent in the league, although North Carolina Central is always in the mix. Throw in intriguing teams at Savannah State and Maryland Eastern Shore, and a surprise team here or there led by an all-conference player, and this year's MEAC may prove to be as unpredictable as ever.
 
But for Norfolk State, maintaining its strong defense is key to starting the year off on the right foot. The Spartans ranked 14^th in the nation last year in blocks, 25^th in defensive rebounds and 27^th in field goal percentage defense. NSU outshot teams overall and shot the same as the opposition from 3-point range. Ultimately one of the biggest areas for improvement will come at the 3-point line. The Spartans allowed teams to take 122 more attempts from deep and thus make several dozen more treys on the year.
 
If the Spartans can keep their defense tight, limit the 3-ball, and find some consistent scoring from a variety of sources, they will once again be in the mix at the top of the standings and come MEAC tournament time.
 
Guard/Perimeter
The scoring options start with senior point guard Zaynah Robinson, who averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game as a complement to Wade, who was adept at scoring from the perimeter and at the basket. After also losing senior guard Kerwin Okoro (7.3 points) and three other backup guards, the focus turns to Robinson to not only lead on offense but lead the program overall as one of three captains.
 
Much like last year, NSU goes into this season trying to determine where most of the perimeter scoring will come from, although Robinson has now proven himself. Wade went from 5.9 points his junior year in 2015-16 sitting behind three double-digit scorers to his 19.4 average as a senior. Robinson, too, made the jump from 6.2 to 13.5 points last year. Is it realistic to expect it to happen again, or will a newcomer make a splash?
 
Those asking who will join Robinson in the scoring column from the perimeter usually start with senior Kyle Williams, the most known commodity at this point in time after averaging 6.2 points per game off the bench and shooting nearly 36 percent from 3-point range. He had seven double-figure scoring games, including highs of 23 and 20 points, and is NSU's third-leading returning scorer for this season. The question then becomes can Williams turn that into more consistent scoring without Wade and Okoro in front of him.
 
To do so, he will have to get past several newcomers. One is no stranger to the program, as sophomore Steven Whitley sat out last year after transferring from Robert Morris. A big-bodied guard at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Whitley is more of a slasher and get to the basket type of player than a true long range shooter. He can also handle the ball, making him an intriguing prospect to start as NSU looks to replace Wade's slasher mentality.
 
Two junior college guards could see plenty of time as well and will also be in the mix to start. Junior Derrik Jamerson Jr. arrives from Owens CC in Ohio, where he averaged 16.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He also made nearly 50 percent from 3-point range, ranked third in NJCAA Division II in total 3-point makes at 120 and stood sixth in percentage. With Jamerson on board, in addition to Robinson, Williams and Whitley, NSU could have its best group of shooting guards in a while.
 
You also have to throw in sophomore Nic Thomas in that rotation, as he is also in the mix to start at one of the guard spots. He averaged 13.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last year at Howard College in Texas. Not nearly as accurate as Jamerson in junior college, Thomas did hit a respectable 44 percent overall and 36 percent from 3-point range. He has already proven he can be relied upon after scoring a team-high 15 points in an exhibition against Virginia State.
 
The only true freshman on the roster, Mastadi Pitt is one more name to keep an eye out for. A local product out of Hampton High School, Pitt is more of a true point guard. After Robinson was forced to play so many minutes late in the season last year as the only natural ball handler, Pitt as well as Whitley and Thomas can spell Robinson much more this year.
 
Redshirt freshman walk-on Vilontae Eanes gives more depth to an NSU squad that will have just 12 active players at the start of the year. Sophomore guard and local product Kyonze Chavis, not included in those 12, will sit out the season after transferring from Colby CC in Kansas.
 
Forward/Center
NSU lost a host of guards from last year's team but will eventually return all of its post players. This year, though, will be the opposite as all but one post player is a senior. The only one who is not? That would be junior forward Alex Long. He is NSU's second-leading returning scorer behind Robinson after tallying 7.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 24 starts. Long is the most known post scorer the Spartans will have in the early part of the season.
 
With senior forward Jordan Butler (7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) sitting out the first semester, Long will be counted on even more to fill a big role up front. The rest of the rotation will also need to step up.
 
The Spartans get back guard/forward Preston Bungei, who sat out last year due to injury. The 6-6 senior averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds his junior year in 2015-16. After adding a little more weight to his frame, he will be counted on to play more in the post against smaller lineups as well as stretch the defense. Like several of the newcomers at the guard spots, an improved, experienced Bungei is also a name to watch out for in NSU's search for consistent scoring.
 
Norfolk State also returns its two centers in seniors Dan Robinson and Bryan Gellineau. Robinson made 12 starts last year and averaged 3.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. Gellineau missed time due to injury and finished with 3.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Robinson showed some touch on his shot from farther away from the basket, while Gellineau made 29-of-45 (64.4 percent) playing closer to the rim.
 
Without Butler for the early going, and against bigger non-conference teams, the two big men will need to play bigger roles for the Spartans this time around.
 
Another player who will need to step up in the post is senior Stavian Allen. A slightly bigger version of Bungei, Allen can step outside some but will also need to play well against those bigger lineups that will test the Spartans throughout the year and especially before Butler's return. Allen averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds last year in a reserve role.
 
Like last year, NSU opens the season at an SEC school, this time at Auburn this Friday to officially begin the 2017-18 campaign. The Spartans will also play four games on the road as part of the Grand Canyon Classic, including travelling all the way out to San Diego. They also host Division I opponents Kent State, Bowling Green and Niagara in addition to Lynchburg College, Mid-Atlantic Christian and Elizabeth City State, the latter of which will come between conference games in January.
 
The highlight of the non-conference slate will take place on Dec. 22 when the Spartans take on Old Dominion at 7 p.m. at Scope Arena. In January, four of NSU's first five MEAC games are on the road. The Spartans will also play three straight games at home twice as conference season heats up, and they wrap up the regular season on a Thursday night at home against rival Hampton.